Dylan on steel?

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 10 Jul 2005 4:59 am

I just heard from a friend that Dylan played steel during his show at GMC Stadium in Sauget, IL, Friday night. I wasn't there but does anybody know anything about this?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 10 Jul 2005 9:37 am

<font size=1>Heaven help us.</font>

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 10 Jul 2005 9:42 am

If so, then it looks like we might have a new contender for the "highest paid Steel Player".

Looks like the SGHOF is convening at just the right time..

EJL

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 10 Jul 2005 9:43 am

Hopefully he plays it as bad as he plays lead guitar - it makes the show entertaining on a whole different level.

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 10 Jul 2005 10:37 am

Are you sure he actually played it?
I saw him in CT with Willie Nelson 3 weeks ago and, although he had a steel set up in front of him the whole set, he never touched it.
Very unusual prop I guess.
It looked cool, though, and I'm sure a thousand people wondered what it was, thereby perhaps seeing a steel for the first time!

John Pelz · Post by **John Pelz** » 10 Jul 2005 5:22 pm

Searching fairly recent (archived) threads in "No Peddlers" and "Steel Players" turned up the following:
1
2

Also, interesting info in this thread, particularly in John Lockney's 3rd post in that thread.

I haven't seen Zimmy in concert since the days that Larry Campbell played the occasional steel part; looks like Don Herron is currently steeling with Bob.

I bet there's even more about this topic in archived SGForum threads...

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 16 Jul 2005 5:39 am

Mr. Tambourine Man Bob was great. He was already over his head on Hiway 66 on electric. I'm glad to see he's progressed to steel.

But seriously, he's always surrounded himself with serious sidemen--the linked threads provide the pantheon--and he's wise for it, even tho he eschews wisdom and fame.
I'd have me a steel on stage too. I can sing better, but that doesn't mean everything....

John Troutman · Post by **John Troutman** » 16 Jul 2005 12:13 pm

You guys are kidding, right? Dylan is and has always been a great guitar player. Can you name me a song he played guitar on that sounds -bad-?

Sorry, I just happen to be (obviously) a HUGE Dylan fan, and SOMEBODY has to defend him, right?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 16 Jul 2005 12:32 pm

So, John, are you saying that if he weren't a great songwriter and bard, he could have made it as a guitar player? Hmmmm...?

John Troutman · Post by **John Troutman** » 16 Jul 2005 12:39 pm

Hey Jim
I don't think he is defined by his guitar playing, but I think his early acoustic picking is spot on--those folk rhythms are often trickier to play than they sound--and I've always enjoyed his electric playing and of course his piano playing. I think that he wields the guitar as well as any other singer/songwriter out there with a few notable exceptions. He's probably on par in his picking these days with Merle Haggard (who put on a fantastic show this year opening for Dylan--sort of blew him out of the water, actually. But I've seen some amazing singing and playing by Dylan as well). Willie can still school him. But hey, that's Willie...

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 17 Jul 2005 3:43 am

John, come to think of it, it was definitely Dylan that got me to cotton-picking. My usual practice was trying to see how smoothly I could play 'Don't Think Twice.' But the real fun was trying to sound like him singing 'While riding on a-train goin' west....' He does have more classic tunes than you can count.

But it's kind of like with Miles Davis.
'The old Miles was great, but...' (Or the old Joni Mitchell, or what have you.)
So much for expectations, when it involves the adventuresome.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 17 Jul 2005 7:35 am

On the amazon.com webcast concert last nite, Dylan played keys and had a double-eight Stringmaster set up. He didn't play it.
Donnie Herron is Dylan's steel guy had what looked to be an old Gibson console and a GFI.

cheers,
Drew

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<font size=1>Drew Howard - website - Fessenden D-10 8/8, Fessenden SD-12 5/5 (Ext E9), Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3</font>

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 17 Jul 2005 7:17 pm

I agree that Dlyan is a fine picker in the traditional acoustic sense, but I've seen him play electric several times live, as well as many times on TV, and he does not know what he's doing on electric lead. He does that one Chuck Berry thing on the 5th fret, and then wanders aimlessly on the neck. Dylan is my number 1 influence on acoustic guitar playing and songwriting, but I wish he'd let his band take the solos. When I saw Charlie Sexton play with Dylan a few years ago, Bob stole almost every lead break. It was depressing watchng Charlie Sexton keeping time while Dylan meandered inaudibly.

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 20 Jul 2005 7:59 am

Dylan is no good on lead?
I saw him a few years ago when he was still playing guitar in his shows & actually, he happens to be the first person I've EVER seen who was able to both ing his lyrics AND play lead at the same time. And he was not bad at that.
I have always said he is a better guitar player than a singer, and at that, better than a lot of people take him for.
But no he doesn't use the steel at all & seems to use it more for a music stand or something to put his keyboard on than anything else.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 20 Jul 2005 9:36 pm

As a singer and guitar player, I've got to say that Dylan is a hell of a songwriter.

John Lockney · Post by **John Lockney** » 21 Jul 2005 1:09 pm

According to this article Dylan took steel guitar lessons from a guy named Bucky around 1989.
http://www.b-dylan.com/pages/samples/buckybaxter.html

Dylan had the Stringmaster setup in front of his keyboard on the most recent tour with Willlie Nelson. I wonder what song(s) he uses it for ?

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 21 Jul 2005 1:41 pm

That would be Bucky Baxter, who played steel, mandolin, and accordian with Dylan for a good part of the '90s.

I saw a Dylan show last year with the Stringmaster set up in front of his keyboard too, but he didn't play it that night. Has ANYBODY actually seen or heard him playing it?

Jim West · Post by **Jim West** » 21 Jul 2005 1:45 pm

Hopefully Dylan plays better than he looks. Time has not been kind to him.

Dave Brophy · Post by **Dave Brophy** » 21 Jul 2005 2:50 pm

I've never heard of him playing it.Bob has it there for the vibe.Sometimes a lyric sheet for new (or new old) song is placed on it.
When George Harrison died,Dylan played "Something" at Madison Square Garden in honor of him.On the recording,you can hear a roadie asking Dylan "Do you want this?" referring to a lyric sheet.Bob replies "Naw,get it outta here."